After 4 straight league wins but also a disappointing Vase defeat last Saturday, the Stan took on 2^nd place Northallerton. There were 4 changes including the return of the Benidorm 2 (Stoddart & Deagle), a first start for Ethan Tait and a debut from the bench for new signing from Team North and ex Newcastle Allan Trodd. One particular loss was the match reporter’s notebook, and more surprisingly without the involvement of alcohol, which has meant some reliance on the twitter feed from the 2^nd half.

On a miserable wet night, the Stan showed their ambition in the 1^st minute when Dawson, the visiting keeper, had to catch a shot from Tait. The Stan then attacked again and in 5 minutes a Jones 30-yard free kick was caught at the 2^nd attempt by the keeper. It was all Stan until the 6^th minute when Smith had to make a good catch but it was then back to the Stan when Imray put a ball from a free kick just over. Another Stan free kick in the 8^th minute resulted in Jones heading the ball against the bar but Tait blasted the rebound into the net. 4 minutes later, Robinson headed over and it wasn’t until 16 minutes that Northallerton had another attack.

Jones then had a free kick that missed everyone and was caught by Dawson. Smith cleared in 18 minutes but then it was back to the Stan who were continually pressing. The visitors finally had another attack in 36 minutes when the award of a Northallerton free kick, for a tackle by Stoddart, which saw him injure himself, led to Tait being booked for dissent. The free kick saw Northallerton’s best effort but Smith saved well. The Stan kept attacking but the half ended with the Stan just 1-0 up but comfortably in control of the match.

The 2nd half saw 2 substitutions with Allan Trodd making his debut replacing the injured Stoddart and Salim replacing goal scorer Tait. The Stan went straight on the attack but Northallerton had the opportunity to equalise against the run of play when a player was shoved in the box and a penalty was awarded. Luckily Hewitt blazed his shot over the bar.

In 52 minutes, there was good link up play by Robinson and Laidler which resulted in a save by Dawson. In 57 minutes, there was great play by Salim who play the ball back for Imray to shoot but Dawson made a great save. There was then chaos in the Northallerton box but the Stan somehow failed to score.

In 64 minutes Smith made a great save. Two minutes later and Robinson went down holding his calf and 4 minutes after had to be replaced by Shaftoe. In 79 minutes, Salim made a break and was challenged clumsily in the box. The crowd thought it was a penalty but the referee didn’t agree.

The Stan were sitting comfortably after 82 minutes when a great corner into a crowded Northallerton box saw Matty Shaftoe head into the net from 4 yards out. Smith made a great save in 87 minutes but it was the Stan who scored again in injury time through Salim. Northallerton never gave up and soon after, and just before the final whistle, they got a consolation goal to make it 3-1.

Even though Northallerton had missed a penalty at 1-0, and the 2^nd and 3^rd goals came late on, the Stan had won comfortably and I don’t need notes to spell it out. The Stan are now 6^thin the league with games in hand and are now aiming for their 5^th straight league win on Saturday against Easington but without Ray who is suspended for 1 match.

Stan: Smith, Stoddart (Trodd 46), Dixon, Ray, Deagle (Y), Imray, Tait (Y) (Salim), Johnson, Robinson (Shaftoe 70), Jones, Laidler.

Subs not used: McCarthy, Wright.

Goals: Taiti 8, Shaftoe 82, Salim 90 (+2).

Yellow Cards: Deagle, Tait

Attendance: 132

Kev Mochrie